Inventory Management for Accurate Estimates
Overview
Accurate inventory is the foundation of a profitable estimate. This guide explains how to use the inventory builder inside the estimate tool and how inventory connects to job execution.
Building Inventory in the Estimate
The inventory builder organizes belongings by room. Instead of a fixed set of tabs, you add the rooms you need from the available room presets:
| Room Preset | Typical Contents |
|---|---|
| Living Room | Sofa, Loveseat, Armchair, Coffee Table, and other living room items |
| Dining Room | Dining Table, Chairs, China Cabinet, and other dining items |
| Kitchen | Refrigerator, Stove, Dishwasher, Kitchen Table, and other kitchen items |
| Master Bedroom / Bedroom | Bed Frame, Mattress, Dresser, Nightstand, and other bedroom items |
| Bathroom | Cabinets, shelving, and other bathroom items |
| Home Office | Desk, Office Chair, Filing Cabinet, and other office items |
| Garage / Basement / Attic / Storage Room / Laundry Room | Boxes, appliances, tools, and stored items |
Adding Items
For each room you add:
- Open the room
- Find the item in the list
- Click the + button to add a quantity, or the − button to remove one
- The item is added to the estimate with its cubic footage and weight values
Automatic Calculations
Every item in the system has a cubic footage value and a weight value. As you add items, the quick summary updates automatically to show:
- Volume — total cubic feet of all items
- Weight — total weight (lbs) of all items
- Distance — miles between pickup and delivery
- Crew — recommended number of movers
- Est. Hours — calculated from the volume and your pricing model
The full cost breakdown (labor and travel costs) appears in the billing breakdown section of the estimate.
TV Packing Prompt
When you add a TV to the estimate, the system may prompt you to Add Company Packing to include a TV Box fee. This ensures the packing material cost is captured in the estimate.
Managing Inventory Items in Settings
You can customize the list of available inventory items:
- Click Settings in the sidebar
- Click the Inventory tab (Inventory Items Management)
- Add, edit, or remove items from the default list
- Changes apply to all future estimates
Inventory on the Job Detail Page
After a customer signs an estimate and a job is created, the inventory carries over to the Job Detail page. The crew can reference the inventory list during the move to ensure all items are accounted for.
Tips for Accuracy
- Go room by room systematically — do not skip storage areas, closets, or garages
- Add a Garage, Basement, Attic, or Storage Room preset for items that are not in the main living spaces
- If a customer adds items after the estimate is sent, update the estimate before it is signed
- Accurate cubic footage leads to accurate time estimates, which protects your pricing